A small group of citizens Wednesday night (Aug. 6) gave Lake Pontchartrain Causeway officials mixed opinions about the safety of the bridge and a proposal to improve the span's railings, which could require a toll increase. At the first public hearing on the railing project, Causeway officials spoke for about 45 minutes before turning it over to the small crowd gathered at Mandeville City Hall.

Jason Cottone said he and his wife both cross the bridge daily. "Everyone wants a safer bridge," he said. "I don't want to see the tolls go up."

Cottone said he believed the safety project -- which could carry a price tag of $50 million if railings on both spans were improved -- is likely to become a reality. He asked if some of the money generated from Causeway traffic tickets could go toward funding the project rather than going to Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes.

Causeway Commission Chairman Michael Lorino Jr. said officials would do everything possible not to raise tolls, which are $3 round-trip for full-fare motorists and $2 for toll tag holders. The $2 fare is the same cost as when the first Causeway span opened in 1956.

Leon Smith of Mandeville said he is not opposed to raising tolls to improve the bridge but said he would like to take a look at the Causeway's financial statements.

After leaving work and getting off of Interstate 10 in Metairie, it's a relief to get onto the Causeway, he said. "You get on the Causeway and feel safe. It's a good feeling.

Don Shea of Covington noted that the Causeway has had only one toll increase in more than 50 years, calling the situation "out of balance.

"I think it's time to raise the tolls ... I would endorse that," said Shea, who is St. Tammany Parish's director of economic development but said he did not attend the meeting in an official capacity.

But Dale Provenzano of Mandeville took issue with statements that the Causeway is safe. He said he's been driving across the bridge for nearly 15 years.

''It's a very dangerous bridge."

He suggested lowering the speed limit from the current 65 mph.

"Every day on that bridge, I actually fear for my life. It's like somebody standing out there with a checkered flag ... if you don't get up to 70 or 75, they'll run over you."

He questioned whether it would be better to have higher bridge railings, saying out-of-control vehicles would bounce off the railings and tangle with other motorists.

"It's almost better that one car goes over the rail" instead of having a multi-vehicle accident, he said. "It's unfortunate. It's the times we live in. It's all fast paced ..."

He encouraged Causeway police to patrol in the middle of the pack at heavily traveled periods and seek out the worst driving offenders.

Mitchell Christen, who lives in the Mandeville area, also complained about safety on the bridge and said he is against any toll increase. He said his wife is a regular commuter and is frightened by out-of-control SUVs, tailgating and motorists texting, emailing and using social media on their phones while driving.

He called the situation "out of control" and maintained there is no enforcement, though bridge General Manager Carlton Dufrechou said earlier in the meeting that the bridge has more enforcement per mile than any highway in the state.

"That's why I'm against this toll increase. I can't afford it," Christen said. "It's going to force me to move back to the south shore."

The people in Mandeville, not the Causeway Commission, should decide any toll increase, he said.

Causeway officials would like to improve the bridge railings, particularly on the older southbound span, where 11 vehicles have gone over the side in the past 20 years, Dufrechou said. One vehicle plunged off the northbound span during that time. The accidents included nine fatalities.

The retaining walls on the southbound bridge stand 25 inches high from the roadway, 6 inches lower than the walls on the northbound span.

One option features 21-inch-tall steel posts and two steel railings that would be bolted atop the concrete wall and stand 46 inches above the roadway.

The second design has steel posts and a single rail that would increase the height of the existing concrete barrier by 12 inches, bringing it to 37 inches above the road.

Testing on the designs will continue through this year, officials said.

Bridge officials Wednesday night showed videos of some of the vehicles that flew off the bridge as well as photos of the railing designs under consideration. They said they want citizen input about the proposed project and would open the Causeway's financial books to all.

"This commission knows no one wants to pay any extra money," Lorino said.

"I'm going to make the best decision I can for the safety of all of those who cross the bridge."

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